BVU's Incoming Class the Largest Since 2005

BVU's Incoming Class the Largest Since 2005

Sept. 10, 2013

Buena Vista University started the fall semester with 343 new undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees at its Storm Lake campus. This marks the second consecutive year with double-digit enrollment increases among first-year students.

New undergraduate students include 259 freshmen and 72 transfer and re-admitted students who are from the U.S., and 13 international degree-seeking students from countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Ghana, Burundi, Liberia and Rwanda. In addition, there are 12 international exchange students who will be on campus for one or two semesters. These enrollment numbers are based on student registration as of Aug. 27. Official census numbers confirm the incoming class as the largest since 2005.

The academic credentials of first-year students are consistent with recent classes. New students hail from 17 states. A full 17 percent of the new students identify as from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

BVU was again named a top school in the U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2014" publication. Many elements going into the U.S. News ranking are indicators of BVU's commitment to higher education: a high proportion of modest classes and a student-to-faculty ratio to ensure students receive individual attention.

In addition, BVU retained its ranking in "Great Schools at Great Prices." The designation takes into account a college's academic quality and the 2012-13 net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid.

All BVU students will have an increased opportunity to take part in internships, academic travel and research due to See Tomorrow: The Campaign for Buena Vista University, which has provided 21 new or enhanced funds for internships and research, established or grown 150 scholarships, and has created or enhanced 27 funds for global travel. The See Tomorrow campaign includes contributions from over 5,500 donors.

"The campaign is the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the history of BVU, and the first to place primary emphasis on our students and our faculty. It will significantly enrich student access to the types of high-impact learning experiences that are critical to the preparation for successful careers, and to provide our talented faculty with expanded resources to fully develop their expertise for the benefit of our students," says President Fred Moore. "It is with great excitement that we enter this academic year with an increased first-year class."